Trey Anastasio is quietly working on a new solo album with help from a formidable cast of indie rockers, SPIN has learned.

Since winding up his fall tour, the Phish guitarist has been making a daily commute from his New York City home to Bridgeport, Connecticut's Tarquin Studios, recording with his band and members of the National and Mates of State for the last month. Peter Katis, who owns the suburban studio and has produced a string of indie rock albums there (Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights and Antics, The National's Boxer, Mates of State's Rearrange Us), is co-producing the album with Anastasio.

A rep for Anastasio didn't return a request for comment, but early reports out of the studio say the sound is a mix between Anastasio's eclectic, Afro-tinged rock and the kind of experimental indie pop produced by the Philistines Jr., Katis' own recently reformed band. Before entering the studio, Katis told Sonic Scoop that Anastasio "wants to do something totally out of left-field."

Anastasio and Co. are working on about 15 new songs, with recording expected to wrap up in January. They'll take a weeklong break later this month, when Phish hold court for four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, including their traditional three-set performance on New Year's Eve.

In related news, FURTHUR (featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead) have started to announce a spring tour that includes EIGHT shows at Beacon Theater where The National play their first of six tonight (12/12). Tickets go on Internet Presale today at noon. Public Ticketmaster sale begins Friday. All Furthur tour dates and the poster, below...

Naturally, I would bring up the Allmans, since they unofficially own that fuckin place. Furthur and all that Dead Head garbage is nothing but jam-band dreck. The Allmans pull their influence from deep within the blues. They're a blues band who unfortunately get lumped in with all the hippie trash that descended from the Woodstock generation.